But then again, I didn't know Seya and Timothy knew each other.
I don't know. I just happened to be at the church today, and I met him--

You mean you picked up a guy as fast as you could?
　Chris, who had been silent all this time, gave me a strong sideways glance that seemed to be aimed at me.

'No, I didn't mean to pick on you...'
So you don't?　You don't think he's flirting with you?　So what on earth was the purpose of talking to a strange girl?

It was Timothy's somewhat fragile atmosphere that bothered me so much that I invited him out for dinner...

You mean, you're trying to pick up girls.
'Oh, yes. Yes.
　Alas, the Manassilo Castle, which was attacked in an instant by Mr. Chris

Well, it's more of a form of invitation on my part--
　It was Timothy who sent reinforcements.

''Ugh, Timothy's a really good kid.......as expected of the Virgin Mary again.......''

　And well, that's how it went.
　I was in the mood to talk happily with the girls for a while longer - and that's when I thought.

"--!
　My right eye twinkles bewitchingly, and my perception system S-class cheat "Dragon's Eye" is activated--!

　Furthermore, the strongest S-class cheat, Kenshyo, will suddenly launch the combat mode by alerting you to the "Dragon's Eye".

　And it's no wonder--they're all in combat mode.

What's this strange feeling...!
　It was so close to just outside of the city - and it was able to slip past the White Snake's warning net!

"Everyone stay here and do not move...

　As I was about to give that instruction, it suddenly occurred to me that it might be safer to be near me.
　At least as long as they're within visual range, I can protect them as much as I want, and aside from Timothy, the current members of the team include Naia and Chris-san, who are skilled in combat, as well as SS-class spirits.

''Seya?''
Mr. Manashiro?
Master Manashiro, what's going on with you all of a sudden?

　Now is not the time to be bothered.

"I believe we have an uninvited visitor. We're almost at the entrance to the city. It's not a catapult, and I'm going to have to ask you to leave before we go into town. So what do you say we all go with me?

　When we got to the entrance, there was a suspicious-looking guy standing there with a pitch-black cloak and an equally pitch-black hood over his eyes.
　He's about the same height as me, or maybe a little taller.

　Apparently, they noticed my presence and were waiting for me like this.

Let's see, Mr. Suspicious person over there. Do you want to be in town?

　I called out to him, but he didn't respond at all.

'Can you lift your hood for now?　As it stands, it's a matter of reporting to the officer.

　The suspicious person who finally lifted the hood, however--

"F--

　As it was, he took off his cloak and drew the sword at his waist and instantly closed the distance to me and slashed at me--!

"No questions asked...　This!

　A sharp first blow that cuts through the air.

　Gin--!

　With a dull thud, I caught it just in time with my Iai-drawing Japanese sword (kusanagi)...!

Kuu--!
Oh, is that how you take it? You're good at this, young man.

　The suspicious person who said that - a sallow-skinned old man - or, more importantly, what struck me as remarkably remarkable - was

The horn--?

　There was a small, but clearly recognizable single horn on its forehead -!